Project description:Left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) provide a durable option for patients with advanced hear failure. Axial and centrifugal pump physiology differs with regard to the relationship between pump inflow-outflow cannula pressure differential and flow, which results in device behavior that can vary drastically under different loading conditions. Ramp studies can aid the clinician in choosing the optimal speed to adequately unload the left ventricle. Advances in 3-dimensional echocardiography enhance the understanding of chamber geometry for both types of LVADs. Novel outflow graft imaging techniques have been developed to better characterize aortic insufficiency, which may be underestimated with current standard methods.
Project description:Technological progress of left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) towards rotary blood pumps and the optimization of medical management contributed to the significant improvements in patient survival as well as LVAD support duration. Even though LVAD therapy is now well-established for end-stage heart failure patients, the long-term occurrence of adverse events (AE) such as bleeding, infection or stroke, still represent a relevant burden. An early detection of AE, before onset of major symptoms, can lead to further optimization of patient treatment and thus mitigate the burden of AE. Continuous patient monitoring facilitates identification of pathophysiological states and allows anticipation of AE to improve patient management. In this paper, methods, algorithms and possibilities for continuous patient monitoring based on LVAD data are reviewed. While experience with continuous LVAD monitoring is currently limited to a few centers worldwide, the pace of developments in this field is fast and we expect these technologies to have a global impact on the well-being of LVAD patients.
Project description:BackgroundVentricular arrhythmia in left ventricular assist device (LVAD) recipients represents a challenging clinical scenario and the optimal treatment strategy in this unique patient population still needs to be defined.Case summaryWe report on a 61-year-old LVAD patient with incessant ventricular fibrillation (VF) despite multiple unsuccessful attempts to restore normal rhythm with external defibrillation and antiarrhythmic medication. He remained initially stable as an outpatient and subsequently developed secondary organ failure.DiscussionThis case demonstrates that under LVAD support long-term haemodynamic stability is possible even in case of VF, a situation that resembles Fontan circulation. However, ventricular arrhythmias are associated with a high risk of secondary organ damage due to right heart failure if left untreated. In case of refractory ventricular tachycardia or electrical storm listing for heart transplantation with high priority status should be pursued when possible. Alternatively, catheter ablation may be considered in selected cases and be performed in experienced centres in close collaboration with all involved specialists.
Project description:Background Cardiogenic shock (CS) is a complex syndrome associated with high morbidity and mortality. In recent years, many US hospitals have formed multidisciplinary shock teams capable of rapid diagnosis and triage. Because of preexisting collaborative systems of care, hospitals with left ventricular assist device (LVAD) programs may also represent "centers of excellence" for CS care. However, the outcomes of patients with CS at LVAD centers have not been previously evaluated. Methods and Results Patients with CS were identified in the 2012 to 2014 National Inpatient Sample. Clinical characteristics, revascularization rates, and use of mechanical circulatory support were analyzed in LVAD versus non-LVAD centers. The association between hospital type and in-hospital mortality was examined using multivariable logistic regression models. Of 272 075 hospitalizations, 26.0% were in LVAD centers. CS attributable to causes other than acute myocardial infarction represented most cases. In-hospital mortality was lower in LVAD centers (38.9% versus 43.3%; P<0.001). In multivariable analysis, the odds of mortality remained significantly lower for hospitalizations in LVAD centers (odds ratio, 0.89; P<0.001). In patients with CS secondary to acute myocardial infarction, revascularization rates were similar between LVAD and non-LVAD centers. The use of intra-aortic balloon pump (18.7% versus 18.8%) and Impella/TandemHeart (2.6% versus 1.9%) was similar between hospital types, whereas extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was used more frequently in LVAD centers (4.3% versus 0.2%; P<0.001). Conclusions Risk-adjusted mortality was lower in patients with CS who were hospitalized at LVAD centers. These centers likely represent specialized, shock team capable institutions across the country that may be best suited to manage patients with CS.
Project description:Data on relative safety, efficacy, and role of different percutaneous left ventricular assist devices for hemodynamic support during the ventricular tachycardia (VT) ablation procedure are limited.We performed a multicenter, observational study from a prospective registry including all consecutive patients (N=66) undergoing VT ablation with a percutaneous left ventricular assist devices in 6 centers in the United States. Patients with intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP group; N=22) were compared with patients with either an Impella or a TandemHeart device (non-IABP group; N=44). There were no significant differences in the baseline characteristics between both the groups. In non-IABP group (1) more patients could undergo entrainment/activation mapping (82% versus 59%; P=0.046), (2) more number of unstable VTs could be mapped and ablated per patient (1.05±0.78 versus 0.32±0.48; P<0.001), (3) more number of VTs could be terminated by ablation (1.59±1.0 versus 0.91±0.81; P=0.007), and (4) fewer VTs were terminated with rescue shocks (1.9±2.2 versus 3.0±1.5; P=0.049) when compared with IABP group. Complications of the procedure trended to be more in the non-IABP group when compared with those in the IABP group (32% versus 14%; P=0.143). Intermediate term outcomes (mortality and VT recurrence) during 12±5-month follow-up were not different between both groups. Left ventricular ejection fraction ?15% was a strong and independent predictor of in-hospital mortality (53% versus 4%; P<0.001).Impella and TandemHeart use in VT ablation facilitates extensive activation mapping of several unstable VTs and requires fewer rescue shocks during the procedure when compared with using IABP.
Project description:Infections are widely prevalent in left ventricular assist device (LVAD) recipients and associated with adverse events including mortality and rehospitalizations. Current evidence examining factors associated with infections in this setting predominantly comprises single-center observational data. We performed a scoping review to systematically summarize all existing studies examining patient-related factors associated with infections after LVAD implantation. Studies published between 01/06 and 02/19 were identified through searching 5 bibliographic databases: PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, CINAHL, and Web of Science Core Collection. Inclusion criteria required examination of patient-related factors associated with infections among recipients of contemporary implantable, continuous flow LVADs. Key study characteristics were extracted by four independent reviewers and current literature described narratively. All analyses took place between February 2019 and May 2021. A total of 31 studies met inclusion criteria. All included studies were observational, and most commonly focused on driveline infections (n = 17). Factors studied most commonly included body composition (n = 8), diabetes and other comorbidities (n = 8), and psychosocial/socio-economic factors (n = 6). Studies were frequently single-center with heterogeneity in definition of infectious outcomes as well as exposure variables. Patient race and sex did not correlate with infection risk. There was no consistent association noted between obesity, diabetes, or psychosocial/socio-economic factors and infections in LVAD recipients. Two studies reported a significant association between malnutrition and hypoalbuminemia and post implant infections. This review summarizes 31 studies that described patient-related factors associated with infection after LVAD implantation. Patient related comorbidities, especially body composition and diabetes, were most commonly evaluated, but were not consistently associated with infections after LVAD implantation.
Project description:INTRODUCTION:Left ventricular assist device (LVAD) exchange has been historically associated with a significant risk of morbidity and mortality. It is unknown, however, whether these outcomes have improved. We aimed to compare clinical outcomes following LVAD exchange to those following initial LVAD implant in a contemporary patient cohort. METHODS:A total of 115 LVAD patients were enrolled between 2014 and 2017 and followed for 1 year. Of these, 15 patients (54.5?±?13.3 years old, 87% male) underwent LVAD exchange at 277 (IQR 191-597) days following LVAD implantation and 100 patients (57.5?±?12.3 years old, 76% male) did not undergo an LVAD exchange (non-exchange group). RESULTS:One-year survival rate following LVAD exchange tended to be higher than the non-exchange patients (93% vs 76%, P = .15). Readmission rates for each comorbidity did not significantly differ between the two groups (P?>?.05 for all) except for the higher rate of pump thrombosis in the LVAD exchange group (P?<?.05). DISCUSSION:LVAD exchange cohorts seem to have comparable clinical outcome with the non-exchange cohorts. CONCLUSION:LVAD exchange might be an increasingly appropriate therapeutic option for the management of pump thrombosis, although careful monitoring for recurrent pump thrombosis is required.
Project description:The number of Left Ventricular Assist Devices (LVADs) implanted each year is rising. Nevertheless, there are minimal data on device acceptance after LVAD implant, and on its relationship with patient-reported outcomes. We designed a cross-sectional study to address this knowledge gap and test the hypothesis that low device acceptance is associated with poorer quality of life, depression and anxiety. Self-report questionnaires were administered to assess quality of life (12-item Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire quality of life subscale), level of anxiety (7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder; GAD-7), level of depression (9-item Patient Health Questionnaire; PHQ-9) and device acceptance (Florida Patient Acceptance Survey; FPAS) to 101 consecutive patients presenting to LVAD clinic. Regression analysis showed a strong correlation between device acceptance and both psychological distress (p < 0.001) and quality of life (p < 0.001). Analysis of the sub-scales of the FPAS showed that patients had significant body image concerns, but return to function and device-related distress were the main drivers of the observed correlation between device acceptance and patient well-being. Younger age was associated with lower device acceptance (r = 0.36, p < 0.001) and lower quality of life (r = 0.54, p < 0.001). These findings suggest that interventions targeting device acceptance should be explored to improve outcomes in LVAD recipients.
Project description:Molecular analysis of the effect left ventricular assist device (LVAD) support has on congestive heart failure patients. Keywords = Congestive heart failure, left ventricular assist device, eNOS, gene, dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase Keywords: other